|
Committed to Him? (you’ve got to be kidding!) - I John 2:7-17 May 7, 2006
Loving/Being Committed to each other is not always “lovely”…
A+B=C š THEREFORE š “love”
Beloved / Dear friends (from agape) = 6 times “Love one another” - not new in time, but new in character – EX of planes
READ 6-11 A. Importance - 2:7-8
* go back to pre-sin Eden – what must it have been like? - Given a place of preeminence – I Cor 13...no meaning without - Rom 13:8-10 – fulfillment of God’s law - Love makes it so that you want to obey the law * WILL, not EMOTION - Not a new commandment...but new in emphasis “Love one another” is repeated at least 12 X in NT
B. Imitation - 2:8 - I Jn 4:8 - “God is love” š Paint picture of the awful people we were that Jesus came to earth to love / die for - Jesus never showed hatred toward those that sinned - Consider all the dif types of people with whom Jesus assoc …babies, publicans, tax collectors, enemies, Pharisees - Measure your love against Jesus’ love, not someone else’s š Picture the person that you like least in this world… love him/her! š Get a piece of paper – name of someone you hate… (relative/co-worker, someone at church)
“Our attitude toward others shows whether we are in the darkness that is passing away or in the true light that is already shining.”
C. Experience - 2:9-11 - love/light vs hatred/darkness
* “It is impossible to be in fellowship with God and out of fellowship with another Christian at the same time.”
- Mt 5:21-25 - offering at altar …Lord’s Table
- fruit of the Spirit – first one š love
- Paul’s “one another” statements (some) + wash o a’s feet + prefer o a + admonish o a + do not judge o a + be of same mind o to a + receive o a + build up o a + bear o a’s burdens + use hospitality o to a + confess faults o to a * treat as God would
Dr Phil – straight talk …love one another – don’t make excuses!
- If one does not love others: - If one does love others: + lives in darkness + lives in light + becomes a stumbling block + not a stumbling block + slows spiritual progress + spiritual growth
š What has love motivated you to do recently? - team š Panama
READ 12-17 Specific Groups – 12-14 - children in the faith – sins forgiven / know God - fathers in the faith – know God from beginning - young men in the faith – overcome evil one / strong / Word abides
All three addressed so they can hear what is said to the other two However – they are all things that should characterize all believers!
The World – 15-17 “world” – 23X in book = a. earth, b. mankind, c. invisible spir. system š pretty black and white!
Two Reasons not to love “the world”
1. Our Incompatibility
James 4: You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely? But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
- who we are - 12-14 - lose the Father’s love - 15 š complete oppo of the Father’s love - what the world is – 16 O lust of the flesh – desires/appetite of the body O lust of the eyes – treasures, riches, superficial – covet! O pride of life – ego, pride, boasting Gen 3:6 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
2. Our Future – 17 - the world š in a nutshell, to hell! Is it really worth it!?!? - believers – live forever with God! …want to live forever?
“Obedience in loving is an important part of abiding/living forever!”
- God wants us to know and understand His will for our lives. - Once we know / understand, God wants us to do His will willingly. - Once we do His will, God wants us to mature.
Will you live for the present and live now? Will you live for the will of God and live forever?
I have to be committed to him/her? (you’ve got to be kidding!) You don’t choose who is part of God’s family / who your brother / sister is… just as you don’t in your natural family … you can’t “send them back” by keeping your receipt
African woman – Christmas – sold herself into slavery – silver dollar “I wanted to give Jesus an offering which satisfies my heart.”
One particular day, Sally walked into the
seminary and knew they were in
for a fun day.
On the wall was a big target and on a
nearby table were many darts. Dr.
Smith told the students to draw a picture
of someone that they disliked or
someone who had made them angry, and he
would allow them to throw darts at
the person's picture.
|